Wood Chip Cars

Prototype Information

Wood chip gondolas are specialized rail cars designed to transport wood chips, a lightweight but bulky commodity, typically from sawmills to paper mills or other processing facilities. Due to the low density of wood chips, these gondolas were often built with extended or higher walls to maximize their carrying capacity without exceeding weight limits.

In the late 1960s, larger and more efficient cars were developed to address the growing demand for wood chip transportation. These cars featured advanced dumping mechanisms to simplify unloading. Depending on the specific operation and facility requirements, wood chip gondolas could either:

Rotary Dumped: The car would be rotated along its longitudinal axis by a rotary dumper to empty the contents. This method is efficient for facilities with rotary dumping equipment.

End Dumped: These cars had hinged ends or mechanisms allowing them to be tipped or tilted, enabling wood chips to slide out from one end. This method was often used in facilities without rotary dumpers.

These advancements helped optimize transportation logistics in the pulp and paper industry, improving efficiency and reducing costs.